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Updates and announcements

Kapooka Bridge – opened to traffic

The Kapooka Bridge officially opened to traffic on Tuesday 14 June 2016.

The Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight Duncan Gay, Member for Riverina Michael McCormack and Member for Wagga Wagga Daryl Maguire cut a ribbon and unveiled a plaque dedicated to Australian servicemen and women before motorists were allowed to drive through on all four divided lanes.

BMD Constructions will remain on site for up to four weeks, weather permitting, to finish the new Camp Access Road intersection and other minor work. There may be minor impacts to traffic on the bridge during this time. The old bridge is scheduled to be removed next year.

We would like to thank all motorists and nearby residents for their continued patience throughout this project.

Construction contract awarded

BMD Constructions has been awarded the construction contract for this project.

The project is being jointly funded by the Australian Government ($27.5 million) and the State Government's Bridges for the Bush program ($27.5 million) and is expected to be finished in mid 2016.

The bridge structure is in place but work on and around the bridge is still under way. Concrete works on the bridge deck have started and there is still road pavement work to be completed.

Preferred option

An option to build a new bridge north of the existing bridge and realign the highway to the east has been selected as the preferred option.

Environmental assessment

Roads and Maritime prepared an environmental impact assessment which included a review of environmental factors (REF) and NSW Species Impact Statement. The environmental assessment identifies and assesses the potential social, economic and environmental impacts of the project. The REF was displayed for community comment from 2 December 2013 to 31 January 2014. No submissions were received.

Under Section 95A of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, 1999, preliminary documentation that provides information about impacts to Box-Gum Woodland, Squirrel Glider and Superb Parrot was displayed for community comment from 10 February 2014 until 10 March 2014. No submissions were received.

Planning approval was received in May 2014.

Project background

Roads and Maritime is planning for a future upgrade of the Kapooka Bridge across the main Sydney-Melbourne railway line on the Olympic Highway at Kapooka, 7.5 kilometres south of Wagga Wagga.

The proposed upgrade would reduce travel times and improve road safety along this stretch of highway which has a history of crashes.

Built in 1880, the bridge includes two, 90 degree bends on the approaches, where the majority of crashes occur. The bridge is a restriction for higher productivity vehicles on this route. Roads and Maritime is investigating how to best upgrade this crossing and approaches.

We displayed four options for comment from December 2010 to February 2011.

A value management workshop involving community members and stakeholders was held in May 2011.

We used this feedback to carry out further investigations and determine the preferred option, announced in December 2011.

Photo gallery

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Kapooka construction photos

Construction of new Kapooka Bridge

Kapooka construction photos

Construction of the new Kapooka Bridge between the railway line and the existing Olympic Highway

Kapooka construction photos

View of bridge piles and earthworks

Kapooka construction photos

A retaining wall being built at a bridge abutment

Kapooka construction photos

Pier 1 under construction

Kapooka construction photos

Reinforcement on the bridge deck at span one is finished and ready for concrete

Kapooka construction photos

Placement of concrete on the bridge deck at span two

Kapooka construction photos

The Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight addresses the crowd at the official ceremony

Kapooka construction photos

The official plaque is unveiled

Kapooka construction photos

An aerial view of the Kapooka Bridge

Kapooka construction photos

Freight efficiency will be improved following the construction of the new bridge

Kapooka construction photos

The new bridge will reduce travel times and improve road safety along this stretch of highway

Map of traffic switch

Olympic Highway traffic is using a new section of road (Camp Access Road) which is allowing work to continue on the bridge and build the new section of the Olympic Highway.